A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR JOURNALISTS Regional Haze 2005 MANE-VU Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 1 MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 2 Table of Contents
A MESSAGE FROM MANE-VU ...... 5 KEY CONTACTS ...... 7 ABOUT REGIONAL HAZE ...... 9 WHAT IS REGIONAL HAZE? ...... 9 WHY HAZE MATTERS ...... 9 Health Effects ...... 9 Visibility ...... 10 Environmental and Economic Impacts ...... 11 The New Air Quality Index for Fine Particles ...... 11 ABOUT MANE-VU ...... 13 OVERVIEW ...... 13 MANE-VU Executive Office ...... 13 Executive Staff ...... 13 MANE-VU MEMBERS ...... 15 CONNECTICUT ...... 15 DELAWARE ...... 15 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ...... 16 MAINE ...... 16 MARYLAND ...... 17 MASSACHUSETTS ...... 17 NEW HAMPSHIRE ...... 18 NEW JERSEY ...... 18 NEW YORK ...... 19 PENNSYLVANIA ...... 19 PENOBSCOT NATION ...... 20 RHODE ISLAND ...... 20 ST. REGIS MOHAWK TRIBE...... 21 U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ...... 21 U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE...... 22 U.S. FOREST SERVICE ...... 22 U.S. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ...... 23 VERMONT ...... 23 MANE-VU PARTNERS...... 24 OZONE TRANSPORT COMMISSION ...... 24 MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL AIR MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION ...... 25 NORTHEAST STATES FOR COORDINATED AIR USE MANAGEMENT ...... 26
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 3 OTHER REGIONAL PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS ...... 27 CENTRAL REGIONAL AIR PLANNING ASSOCIATION ...... 27 MIDWEST REGIONAL PLANNING ORGANIZATION ...... 27 VISIBILITY IMPROVEMENT STATE AND TRIBAL ASSOCIATION OF THE SOUTHEAST ...... 27 WESTERN REGIONAL AIR PARTNERSHIP ...... 28 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ...... 29 AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION ...... 29 APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB ...... 29 CAMNET ...... 29 EPA’S REGIONAL HAZE PROGRAM...... 29 INTERAGENCY MONITORING OF PROTECTED VISUAL ENVIRONMENTS (IMPROVE)...... 30 GLOSSARY ...... 31 ACRONYMS ...... 32
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 4 Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union
Members Connecticut MANE-VU Delaware District of Columbia Maine Maryland Massachusetts May 2005 New Hampshire New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Penobscot Indian Nation Rhode Island Dear Journalist: St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Vermont
Nonvoting Members On behalf of nearly 20 federal, state and tribal agencies working together toward U.S. Environmental solutions to the visibility and public health concerns posed by regional haze over the Protection Agency National Park Service northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States [Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union U.S. FIsh and Wildlife Service (MANE-VU)], I am pleased to provide you with this guide to resources that we trust U.S. Forest Service will prove useful as you cover the issue.
Regional haze is not a small problem. On most days — in many parts of the country, any time of the year — how far you can see is limited by harmful air pollution that can obscure views of mountain ranges, city skylines and scenic vistas. The fine particles that cause haze also pose a threat to human health. Sources of these particles include power plants, factories, cars and trucks.
Everyone can see hazy skies, but what many people don’t know is that what they are seeing and are exposed to, may be pollution. In 2004, MANE-VU conducted focus groups on regional haze and discovered that the public does not think proactively about haze; they consider haze a weather-related, summertime phenomenon. Focus group participants did not connect haze to air pollution and did not believe haze to be an urban problem.
MANE-VU Class I Areas Public awareness, concern and action are, of course, essential to the success of efforts to ACADIA NATIONAL PARK reduce regional haze. We urge you to help everyone better understand the issues, and ME we hope this guide will serve you well. BRIGANTINE WILDERNESS NJ
GREAT GULF WILDERNESS NH Sincerely,
LYE BROOK WILDERNESS VT Christopher Recchia MOOSEHORN WILDERNESS ME Executive Director PRESIDENTIAL RANGE DRY RIVER WILDERNESS NH
ROOSEVELT CAMPOBELLO 444 North Capitol Street, NW ~ Suite 638 ~ Washington, DC 20001 INTERNATIONAL PARK 202.508.3840 p ~ 202.508.3841 f ME/NB, CANADA www.mane-vu.org
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 5 MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 6 KEY CONTACTS
Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union (MANE-VU) Christopher Recchia Executive Director Phone: (202) 508-3840 [email protected]
Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA) Susan S.G. Wierman Executive Director Phone: (410) 467-0170 FAX: (410) 467-1737 [email protected]
Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) Arthur N. Marin Executive Director Phone: (617) 259-2017 FAX: (617) 742-9162 [email protected]
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Media Relations John Millett Phone: (202) 564-7842 FAX: (202) 501-1774 [email protected]
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mitch Snow Phone: (202) 208-5634 FAX: (202) 219-2428 [email protected]
U.S. Forest Service Joe Walsh, Program Manager of the Press Office Phone: (202) 205-1294 [email protected]
National Park Service Office of Communications David Barna, Director Phone: (202) 208-6843 FAX: (202) 219-0910 www.nps.gov/pub_aff/refdesk/index.html
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 7 MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 8 ABOUT REGIONAL HAZE WHAT IS REGIONAL HAZE?
Regional haze is visibility impairment caused by the emission of air pollutants over a wide geographical area. The harmful air pollution that causes regional haze consists of fine particles, smoke, dust, and moisture suspended in the air. The pollution that causes regional haze poses a threat to human health, and it can cover an area of several hundred miles.
Most regional haze is not a natural phenomenon but a result of human activity, formed by emissions from power plants, factories, cars and trucks and is exacerbated by moisture in the air. Unlike ground-level ozone, haze is not just a summertime problem, it can occur at any time of the year. Regional haze seen in the east usually results from fine particle pollution that has been transported over long distances and across state borders.
In the Eastern United States, the primary component of haze-causing particles are sulfates, which are formed from sulfur dioxides emitted largely from coal-burning power plants and industrial boilers. The second largest component of regional haze particles is organic carbon, emitted from such sources as cars, trucks, and construction equipment.
While most sulfates are produced by human activity, some sulfate particles are emitted from natural sources, such as tiny organisms at the ocean surface and volcanoes. Wildfires also contribute to haze through their release of elemental and organic carbon. However, these are not generally considered as a significant contribution to regional haze in the Eastern U.S.
WHY HAZE MATTERS
Health Effects
If you can see haze on the horizon, you are probably being exposed to fine-particle pollution. Fine particles can go deep into the lungs, and some may even enter the bloodstream. When particle pollution reaches certain levels, people’s health is at risk, especially children, older adults, and people with heart or lung diseases or respiratory problems.
Children are likely to be at risk for a number of reasons. First, children’s lungs are continuously developing and even at rest, their breathing rates can be twice that of adults. Secondly, on any given day, children tend to be more active than adults. Additionally, many children have asthma that can be aggravated by fine particle pollution.
Older adults may have undiagnosed heart or lung disease, or diabetes. Studies show that when particle levels are high, older adults are more likely to be hospitalized, and some may die when fine-particle pollution aggravates heart or lung disease.
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 9 In people with heart disease, particles have been linked to heart attacks and irregular heart rhythms. Recent evidence suggests that such emergencies can be triggered by exposures to particle pollution for as little as one hour.
The longer people are active outdoors and the more strenuous their activity, the greater the health risk. This is due to the fact that faster breathing pulls more particles deep into the lungs.
Healthy people may also experience temporary symptoms from exposure to elevated levels of particles. Symptoms may include: irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; coughing; phlegm; chest tightness; and shortness of breath.
Visibility
Air pollution appears as haze when fine particles scatter and absorb light before the light reaches the observer. As the number of fine particles increases, more light is absorbed and scattered, resulting in less clarity, color, and visual range.
Natural (unpolluted) visibility conditions in the East are estimated at over 60 – 80 miles in most locations. Under polluted conditions, visibility is reduced to a range of 20 – 40 miles. Under worst case conditions, regional haze reduces visibility to just a few miles.
The federal Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address visibility impaired by haze in federal Class I areas ¯ certain national parks and wilderness areas. In 1999, EPA issued the Regional Haze Rule, which requires states and interested tribes to take steps to reduce haze-causing emissions from numerous sources over large geographic areas.
In accordance with the Rule, all states in the nation are required to identify key sources of haze-causing pollution, develop plans to reduce emissions from those sources, and submit these plans to EPA by 2008. EPA established five regional planning organizations across the nation to coordinate this effort. MANE-VU is one of these regional organizations.
Seven Class I areas exist in the MANE-VU region. They are: Moosehorn Wilderness Area, Roosevelt Campobello International Park, and Acadia National Park in Maine; Great Gulf Wilderness Area and Presidential Range – Dry River Wilderness Area in New Hampshire; Lye Brook Wilderness Area in Vermont; and Brigantine Wilderness Area in New Jersey.
Although the Regional Haze Rule is designed to reduce air pollution and increase visibility in Class I areas, regional haze also affects the views of other natural areas and city skylines throughout the region.
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 10 Environmental and Economic Impacts
Numerous surveys have shown that visitors to national parks and wilderness areas rank clean air and scenic views among the most important attributes of the visit.
At Acadia National Park in Maine, for instance, respondents to a visitor study indicated that “scenic views” along with clean air and clean water received the highest ratings of “extremely” or “very” important from a long list that included park amenities and specific natural features. One study asked participants how different visibility conditions would affect their enjoyment of national parks and whether they would be willing to pay higher prices or taxes to support specific measures to improve visibility. The study found that protecting visibility from further degradation ranked as a “high priority” for 72 percent of respondents; 95 percent believed that their enjoyment of national parks would increase with improved visibility.
The sulfate fine particles that make up most of the regional haze in the east are acidic. These particles are formed in the atmosphere then deposited to the earth in the form of rain or snow. Acid deposition can result in increased acidity of lakes, rivers, and streams, making them unsuitable for many fish, loons and other insect and fish-eating birds. Acid rain also damages plants, soil and wildlife.
The New Air Quality Index for Fine Particles
Air quality, like the weather, can change from day to day, even hour to hour. EPA and others are working to make information about air quality easier to understand, using a tool called the Air Quality Index, or AQI.
The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality levels and associated health effects. EPA provides a daily forecast of particle pollution levels for the following day. Many states also provide current AQI levels and year-round particle pollution forecasts. The AQI is available at www.epa.gov/airnow.
While visibility can be a good indicator of air pollution, regional haze may be present even when the AQI index is in the “good” (green) or “moderate” (yellow) range. Conversely, views may be clear even when the AQI is in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups”(orange) range.
Depending on humidity levels and the types of particles involved, regional haze can form at relatively low concentrations of fine particles--in the green, “good” range--or it may not form at much higher levels of fine particles--in the orange, “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range. However, when the AQI is red (“unhealthy”) or purple (“very unhealthy”) due to elevated levels of fine particles, regional haze is almost always present.
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 11 In summer, fine particle levels in the yellow or orange range may coincide with high ozone levels. On such days, people are encouraged to consult www.epa.gov/airnow or check individual state web sites to find out whether they should limit outdoor activity due to elevated levels of ozone and/or fine particles.
EPA Region I (New England) has developed AQI graph- ics that news media can adapt for use in providing daily air quality forecasts on their weather pages.
Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution
Fine Particle Air Quality Air Quality Concentration Health Advisory Index in ug/m3
Good 0 - 15.4 0 - 15 None.
Unusually sensitive people should consider Moderate 15.5 - 40.4 51-100 reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
Unhealthy for People with heart or lung disease, older adults, Sensitive 40.5 - 65.4 101-150 and children should reduce prolonged or heavy Groups exertion.
People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy Unhealthy 65.5 - 150.4 151-200 exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
People with heart or lung disease, older adults, Very and children should avoid all physical activity Unhealthy 150.5 - 250.4 201-300 outdoors. Everyone else should avoid (Alert) prolonged or heavy exertion.
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 12 ABOUT MANE-VU
The Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union (MANE-VU) was formed by the Mid- Atlantic and Northeastern states, tribes, and federal agencies to coordinate regional haze planning activities for the region. MANE-VU includes representatives from Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the Penobscot Indian Nation, Rhode Island, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Vermont, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.
MANE-VU was formed to encourage a coordinated approach to meeting the requirements of EPA’s regional haze rules and reducing visibility impairment in major national parks and wilderness areas in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. MANE- VU provides technical assessments and assistance to its members, evaluates linkages to other regional air pollution issues, provides a forum for discussion, and encourages coordinated actions. MANE-VU also facilitates coordination with other regions.
MANE-VU’s structure includes a board comprised of state and tribal Commissioners/ Secretaries, federal and state air program directors and two committees comprised of agency personnel: a Technical Support Committee to assess the nature of regional haze, the sources that contribute to regional haze and the technical tools that states use to develop their programs; and a Communications Committee to develop outreach messages and approaches.
MANE-VU Executive Office
Hall of the States, 444 North Capitol St., Suite 638; Washington, DC 20001. USA. Tel : (202) 508 - 3840 Fax : (202) 508 - 3841 [email protected] www.manevu.org
Executive Staff
Christopher Recchia Anna Garcia Tom Frankiewicz Executive Director Deputy Director Senior Program Manager (202) 508-3840 (202) 508-3815 (202) 508-3812 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Leomi Brown Sara Hayes Kromeklia Bryant Office Manager Regulatory Analyst Office Assistant (202) 508-3838 (202)508-3879 (202) 508-3840 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 13 MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 14 MANE-VU MEMBERS
CONNECTICUT
Department of Environmental Protection Gina McCarthy, Commissioner 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 www.dep.state.ct.us/
Media Contact: Matthew Fritz Interim Director of Communications and Education Phone: (860) 424-4100 Fax: (860) 424-4053 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: David Wackter Phone: (860) 424-3422 [email protected]
DELAWARE
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control John A. Hughes, Secretary 89 Kings Hwy Dover, DE 19901 www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnrec2000/
Media Contact: Maria Taylor, Public Affairs Phone: (302) 739-4506 Fax: (302) 739-6242 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Ali Mirzakhali, Program Administrator Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control 156 South State Street Dover, DE 19901 Phone: (302) 739-4791 [email protected]
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 15 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Environmental Health Administration, Air Quality Division Donald Wambsgans, Director, Air Quality Division 51 N. Street, NE Fifth Floor Washington, DC 20002 www.dchealth.dc.gov/index.asp
Media Contact: District of Columbia, Executive Office of Communications Sharon Gang Phone: (202) 727-5011 Fax: (202) 727-9561 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Donald Wambsgans, Director, Air Quality Division Phone: (202) 535-2255 [email protected]
MAINE
Department of Environmental Protection Dawn Gallagher, Commissioner 17 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0017 www.maine.gov/dep/index.shtml
Media Contact: Public Information - Bob Demkowicz Phone: (207) 287-2812 Fax: (207) 287-2814 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contacts: Jeff Crawford (Policy) Phone: (207) 287-7647 [email protected]
Tom Downs (Technical Support) Phone: (207) 287-2437 [email protected]
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 16 MARYLAND
Department of the Environment Kendl P. Philbrick, Secretary 1800 Washington Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21230 www.mde.state.md.us
Media Contact: Publications & Outreach Julie Oberg, Chief of Media Phone: (410) 537-3003 Fax: (410) 537-3936 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Department of the Environment Tad Aburn 2500 Broening Highway Baltimore, MD 21224 Phone: (410) 537-3245 [email protected]
MASSACHUSETTS
Department of Environmental Protection Robert W. Golledge, Jr., Commissioner One Winter Street Boston, MA 02108 www.mass.gov/dep/bwp/daqc/haze.htm
Media Contact: Ed Colleta Acting Director of Public Affairs Phone: (617) 292-5737 Fax: (617) 574-6880 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Steve Dennis Phone: (617) 292-5766 [email protected]
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 17 NEW HAMPSHIRE
Department of Environmental Services Michael Nolin, Commissioner 29 Hazen Drive, P.O. Box 95 Concord, NH 03302-0095 www.des.nh.gov
Media Contact: James Martin Public Information Officer Phone: (603) 271-3710 Fax: (603) 271-8013 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Jeffrey T. Underhill, Ph.D. Air Resources Division Phone: (603) 271-1102 Fax: (603) 271-1381 [email protected]
NEW JERSEY
Department of Environmental Protection Bradley M. Campbell, Commissioner P.O. 402 401 East State Street Trenton, NJ 08625-0402 www.nj.gov/dep/index.html
Media Contact: Karen Hershey Press Officer Phone: (609) 984-1795 Fax: (609) 777-1781 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Chris Salmi Phone: (609) 292-6710 [email protected]
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 18 NEW YORK
Department of Environmental Conservation Denise Sheehan, Acting Commissioner 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233-1010 Phone: (518) 402-8540 Fax: (518) 402-9016 www.dec.state.ny.us
Media Contact: Michael Fraser Assistant Commissioner of Media Relations Phone: (518) 402-8000 Fax: (518) 402-2209
Regional Haze Contact: Jim Ralston Phone: (518) 402-8396 [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Environmental Protection Kathleen A. McGinty, Secretary Rachel Carson State Office Building P.O. Box 2063 Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063 www.dep.state.pa.us/dep
Media Contact: Kurt Knaus, Press Secretary Phone: (717) 787-1323 Fax: (717) 783-8926 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Kathleen McGinty Phone: (717) 787-2814
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 19 PENOBSCOT NATION
Department of Natural Resources John Banks, Director 6 River Rd. Indian Island, Maine 04468 [email protected]
Media Contact: John Banks Phone: (207) 817-7330 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: John Banks
RHODE ISLAND
Department of Environmental Management Frederick J. Vincent, Interim Director 235 Promenade Street Providence, RI 02908-5767 www.state.ri.us/dem
Media Contact: Gail Mastrati, Communications Director Phone: (401) 222-4700 ext. 2402 Fax: (401) 222-6802 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Stephen Majkut Phone: (401) 222-4700 [email protected]
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 20 ST. REGIS MOHAWK TRIBE
Ken Jock, Director 412 State Route 37 Akwesasne, NY 13655 www.srmtenv.org
Media Contact: Angela Benedict-Dunn Air Quality Program Manager Phone: (518) 358-5937 Fax: (518) 358-6252 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Angela Benedict-Dunn
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Stephen Johnson, Acting Administrator Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Phone: (202) 564-4700 [email protected] www.epa.gov
Media Contact: Office of Media Relations John Millett Phone: (202) 564-7842 Fax: (202) 501-1774 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Marcia Spink US EPA Region III 3AP00 1650 Arch St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029 Phone: (215) 814-2104 [email protected]
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 21 U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Steven A. Williams, Director 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Hr-2000 Arlington, Virginia 22203-1610 www.fws.gov
Media Contact: Mitch Snow Phone: (202) 208-5634 Fax: (202) 219-2428 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Sandra V. Silva U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 12795 Alameda Parkway Lakewood, CO 80225 [email protected]
U.S. FOREST SERVICE
Dale N. Bosworth, Chief Sidney R. Yates Federal Building 201 14th Street, SW Washington, DC 20250 www.fs.fed.us
Media Contact: Joe Walsh, Media Program Manager Phone: (202) 205-1294 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Donna Lamb U.S. Forest Service Air Quality Program 201 14th Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20024 Phone: (202) 205-0800 Fax: (202) 205-1599 [email protected]
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 22 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Air Resources Division Christine Shaver, Director P.O. Box 25287 Denver, CO 80225 www2.nature.nps.gov/air/
Media Contact: Office of Communications David Barna, Director 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Phone: (202) 208-6843 Fax: (202) 219-0910 www.nps.gov/pub_aff/refdesk/index.html
Regional Haze Contact: Christine Shaver Phone: (303) 969-2074 Fax: (303) 969-2822 [email protected]
VERMONT
Department of Environmental Conservation Jeffrey Wennberg, Commissioner 103 South Main Street, 1 South Building Waterbury, Vermont 05671-0401 www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/
Media Contact: Public Affairs Office Justin Johnson Phone: (802) 241-3803 Fax: (802) 244-5141 [email protected]
Regional Haze Contact: Richard A. Valentinetti Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation 103 South Main Street, Building 3 South Waterbury, VT 05671-0402 [email protected] www.state.vt.us
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 23 MANE-VU PARTNERS OZONE TRANSPORT COMMISSION
Hall of the States 444 North Capitol St., Suite 638; Washington, DC 20001 [email protected]
Christopher Recchia Executive Director Phone : (202) 508-3840 Fax : (202) 508-3841 [email protected]
Anna Garcia Deputy Director Phone : (202) 508-3815 Fax : 202-508 -3841 [email protected]
The Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) is a multi-state organization whose main focus is to develop regional solutions to the ground-level ozone problem in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the U.S. We are committed to finding innovative approaches that maximize public health and environmental benefits.
OTC was created by Congress, and its members include: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 24 MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL AIR MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
711 West 40th Street Suite 312 Baltimore, MD 21211-2109 Phone: (410) 467-0170 Fax: (410) 467-1737 www.marama.org
Susan S.G. Wierman Executive Director [email protected]
Serpil Kayin Senior Environmental Scientist [email protected]
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA) is a voluntary, non- profit association of ten state and local air pollution control agencies. MARAMA’s mission is to strengthen the skills and capabilities of member agencies and to help them work together to prevent and reduce air pollution in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
The following state and local governments are MARAMA members: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Philadelphia, and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 25 NORTHEAST STATES FOR COORDINATED AIR USE MANAGEMENT
101 Merrimac Street Boston, MA 02114 Phone: (617) 259-2000 Fax: (617) 742-9162 www.nescaum.org
Arthur N. Marin Deputy Director [email protected]
Gary Kleiman Head of Science and Technology and Regional Haze Contact [email protected]
The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) is an interstate association of air quality control divisions in the Northeast states. The eight member states are comprised of the six New England States, New York, and New Jersey. The purpose is to exchange technical information, and to promote cooperation and coordination of technical and policy issues regarding air quality control among the member states. To accomplish this, NESCAUM sponsors air quality training programs, participates in national debates, assists in exchange of information, and promotes research initiatives.
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 26 OTHER REGIONAL PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS CENTRAL REGIONAL AIR PLANNING ASSOCIATION
10005 S. Pennsylvania, Ste. C Oklahoma City, OK 73159 Phone: (405) 378-7377 Fax: (405) 378-7379 www.cenrap.org
Chuck Layman, Executive Director [email protected]
MIDWEST REGIONAL PLANNING ORGANIZATION
2250 East Devon Ave. Suite 250 Des Plaines IL, 60018 www.ladco.org
Mike Koerber, Executive Director Phone: (847) 296-2181 Fax: (847) 296-2958 [email protected]
VISIBILITY IMPROVEMENT STATE AND TRIBAL ASSOCIATION OF THE SOUTHEAST
John Hornback VISTAS Executive Director Metro4 SESARM/VISTAS 524 Forest Parkway, Suite F Forest Park, GA 30297-6140 Phone: (404) 361-4000 [email protected]
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 27 WESTERN REGIONAL AIR PARTNERSHIP
Patrick Cummins WRAP Co-Director Western Governors’ Association 1515 Cleveland Place, Suite 200 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: (970) 884-4770 Fax: (303) 534-7309 [email protected] www.wrapair.org
Bob Gruenig WRAP Co-Director Director, Air Program National Tribal Environmental Council 2501 Rio Grande Boulevard NW Albuquerque, NM 87104 Phone: (505) 242-2175 Fax: (505) 242-2654 [email protected]
Karen Deike Communications Director Western Governors’ Association 1515 Cleveland Place, Suite 200 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: (303) 623-9378 Fax: (303) 534-7309 [email protected]
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 28 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION (ALA)
61 Broadway, 6th Floor NY, NY 10006 www.ala.org APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB (AMC)
5 Joy Street Boston, MA 02108 Phone: (617) 523-0636 Fax: (617) 523-0722 [email protected]
CAMNET
George Allen, Senior Scientist 101 Merrimac Street Boston, MA 02114 Phone: (617) 259-2035 Fax: (617) 742-9162 [email protected] www.hazecam.net
EPA’S REGIONAL HAZE PROGRAM
Rich Damberg US EPA MD-15 Research Triangle Park North Carolina, 27711 Phone: (919) 541-5592 Fax: (919) 541-7690 [email protected] www.epa.gov/air/visibility/program.html
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 29 INTERAGENCY MONITORING OF PROTECTED VISUAL ENVIRONMENTS (IMPROVE)
Bret Schichtel Colorado State University Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere Foothills Campus Fort Collins, CO 80523 Phone: (970) 491-8581 Fax: (970) 491-8598 [email protected] vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 30 GLOSSARY
Air Quality Index is an index that EPA and local officials use to provide the public with information on local air quality, the health concerns for different levels of air pollution and how the public can protect their health when pollutants reach unhealthy levels. Fine Particles (or PM2.5) consists of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter. Particulate matter consists of the solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Fine particles result from many different sources including industrial and residential combustion and vehicle exhaust so their composition varies widely. Fine particles can also be formed when combustion gases are chemically transformed into particles. Mandatory Class I Federal Areas are 156 areas including national parks exceeding 6000 acres and wilderness areas and national memorial parks exceeding 5000 acres and all interna- tional parks that were in existence on August 7, 1977. Natural Visibility Conditions represent the long-term degree of visibility impairment that is estimated to exist in a given mandatory Federal Class I area in the absence of any human- caused impairment. (EPA guidance). National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are the ambient air pollution levels set by the EPA, as required by the Clean Air Act for pollutants considered to be harmful to public health and the environment. NAAQS have been set for six pollutants including carbon monox- ide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, lead, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. Regional haze is visibility impairment that is caused by the emission of air pollutants from numerous sources located over a wide geographic area. Such sources include, but are not limited to, major and minor stationary sources, mobile sources, and area sources. (EPA’s 1999 Regional Haze regulation). Regional Haze Regulation is the set of regulations governing the implementation of the regional haze program issued by EPA in July 1999. These regulations mandated the formation of regional planning organizations (RPO) to address visibility impairment on a regional basis. MANE-VU is the RPO for the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. Visibility Impairment means any humanly perceptible change in visibility (light extinction, visual range, contrast, coloration) from that which would have existed under natural conditions.
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 31 ACRONYMS
AQI Air Quality Index
CAA Clean Air Act
CENRAP Central Regional Air Planning Association
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
IMPROVE Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments
MANE-VU Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union
MARAMA Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NESCAUM Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management
OTC Ozone Transport Commission
RPO Regional Planning Organization
VISTAS Visibility Improvement State and Tribal Association of the Southeast
WRAP Western Regional Air Partnership
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 32 Prepared by the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union (MANE-VU), an organization of Mid-Atlantic and North- eastern states, tribes, and federal agencies for coordinated planning and action to reduce regional haze in major national parks and wilderness areas.
Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union 444 N. Capitol Street, NW Suite 638 Washington, DC 20001 MANE-VU Phone: 202.508.3840 Fax: 202.508.3841 www.mane-vu.org
MANE-VU Media Resource Guide 33